Impigmented exfoliated shell and method of producing the same



Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED: STA

Tris PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY. RAUSGHENBEBG, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

IMIIGMENTED EXFOLIATED SHELL AND amass or rnonucmo THE SAME.

No Drawing.

My invention relates to impigmented 'exfoliated shell, more particularly pearl shell, and to a method for producing the same, and the objects of my invention are First, to provide natural shell in sheets, layers, laminations or exfoliations of various colorsand shades for decorative purposes; second to I parted to them.

provide impigmented exfoliatednatural shell materials of various colors and shades such as may be used for interior, exterior or other decorations; third, to provide exfoliated shell materials impigmented with inorganic or organic pigments precipitated or deposited into, upon or between the laminae of the shell material; fourth, to provide natural shell flakes which'impart brilliance, iridescence, s intillalation, high lights and relief with added colors and shades, thus adding to their decorative qualities, and fifth, to provide a new and novel method of producing impigmented exfoliated shell ofall kinds and classes.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of a certain product of impigmented exfoliated shell and the certain novel method of producing the same, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth the appended claims.

Plain or natural exfoliated shell imparts a beauty of iridescence peculiarly its own, but it does not impart the splendor or color procurable from the sameshell when treated with inorganic or organic pigments. When so treated the exfoliations, luminaa or flakes take on the richness, beauty and iridescence of'gems or the'subdued pastel shades, according to the size of the flakes and the intensity of color im- Impigmented exfoliated shell lends itself to every character of decorations for it readily adheres-to freshly varnished, painted, enam- 'eled, or any adhesive surface, and may be used upon walls, ceilings,-domes, woodwork, build cal scenery, theatrical decorations, motion picture settings, curtains, costumes, hats, fabrics,"

ing board, stafi, plaster, plastic or other cements, hollow tile,'brick, metallic surfaces, wall paper, window and art glass, glass fur-' niture tops, screens, window displays, theatriand-on a multitudinous number of other'objects and places. l

In my specification I use the words: impigment impi ented and impigmentatlon to designate in every particular, in every in+ 'atanoeandinfulltheactorstateofbeingim- Application filed May 17, 1924. Serial No. 714149.

pigmented, stained, dyed, colored, coated and covered with inorganic or organic pigments.

Exfoliated shell derived from the various shells varies in texture, grain or density of the laminae, and therfore the absorption thereby of organic or inorganic pigments varies; consequently my method of impigmentation may vary. In general, my method consists of treat- I ing exfoliated shell with a suitable chemical solution, Whether inorganic or organic, either with or without the aid of heat, to impregnate the laminae with said solution, then, with a suitable chemical precipitant, developing, precipitating or depositing the pigment, formed from the-resultant precipitate, into, upon or between the laminae. This latter step may also, be accomplished with or without the aid of heat. Theexcess of pigment is then removed by washing.

By this method, with slight individual changes to complete the chemical reaction, all.

of the inorganic pigments used in the art of color production by precipitation may be precipitated and fixed into, upon or between the" lamina of exfoliated pearl shell, many of which pigments are either light-proof or substantia ly permanent colors.

' By the same method organic pigments may each separately in distilled water; render the y argentic nitrate solution alkalinewith' ammonic hydrate; cover a portion of exfoliated shell contained in. a suitable vessel with the I l argentic nitrate solution and boil, keeping the 1 same at a boiling point for 30 to 45 minutes, with frequent stirring; then add the potasic dichromate-solution in small portions, stirring constantly for 30 minutesto precipitate the chemicals and to fix the precipitate formed; a and then wash with water. The resultant product will be a beautiful yellow or orange according to whether the reaction is carried out for argentic ch'romate or dichromate.

When" ar entic oxide, argentic chromate, I

arg entic die romate, argentic iodide,- chromic oxide oadmic chromate, zinc chromate and plumbic and plumbous chromates are used,

different colored pigments or shades of red, yellow, green and brown are imparted to the shell. When manganous and ferric salts are used, different shades of brown, buff and red are imparted. When ferric ferricyanide is used, different shades of blue are produced. All other precipitable inorganic'pi ments are likewise producible for coloring.'s ell.

An instance of the application of the method of impiglnenting with organic pigments is as follows: I v 7 Take a suilicient quantity oft-he desired synthetic color, which may be assumed to be xylidine ponceau, to produce the desired shade of red for a weighed amount of exfoliated shell, and dissolve same in a suflicient amount of water; then add the exfoliated shell and kee at the boiling point for-30 to 60' minutes; ten addv the proper preciptant or fixing agent, which may be assumed to be aluminum sulphate, in sufficient quautity 'ingand stirring the mixture, then addingaprecipitate-forming chemical solution tothe" above mixture, and then'boiling and stirring to preciptate, in order to fix the color, and

boil for 30 minutes: then wash and dry the resultant red colored pigmented shell.

Though I have described a certain impigmented exfoliated shell product and a certain method of roducing the same, I do not wish to bind or limit myself to the specific. product,

nor to any specific quantities or proportions,

' nor to the kind, kinds, combinations or mixtures of pigments, stains dyes or colors to ob-' tain my results'in impigmenting exfoliated shell derived from various shells varying in texture, grain or density of laminae, which vary in absorption of pigments, nor to thear-, ticularmethod described, but desire to inc ude in the scope ofm invention the product and method substantlally as set forth inthe ap pended claims. r

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: A

1. A product of manufacture, consistin of 4 flaked natural shell exfoliations colore by chemical precipitates.

2. Aproduct of manufacture, consistingof natural shell exfoliations, and a color pre V colored by'chemical precipitates formingcolciptate deposited into, upon and between the laminae of the exfoliations.

3. A product of manufacture, consisting of natural 'mother-of-pearl material colored with a color precipitate deposited into and between the laminae thereof.

. 4. A product of manufacture, consisting of natural mother-of-pearl shell material form in. acheinica'l solution, and then adding a precipitate forming solution to. the mix-1* above mixture, then boiling and stirrin tallic salt solution, and thenfad'din ing colored'fla-ked naturalshellmaterial, con

sisting in saturating flaked natural shell material with a chemical solution, then subjecting said chemically saturated shell material to a coloredprecipitate-forming chemical.

7. Th'e' herei n described'method of producing impigmented exfoliated 'shell, consisting1 in immersing exfoliated natural shell in flake 8, The herein described method of produc ing impigmented exfoliated shell, eonsistingi y; in immersing exfoliated natural shell in... flaked'form in a chemical solution, then boil-"j the whole. i 8 9, The hereindescribed' method of producing impigmented exfoliated shell, consisting in immersing exfoliated natural shell in flaked form ina chemical solution, then boil-' ing and stirring the mixture, then adding a 91 precipitate-forming chemical solution to the t e whole, then separating the shell material rom said chemicals, and, then washing the .impigmented shell rmtterlaLv 10. The herein describedmethod. ofpro-' ducing impigmented exfoliated shell, consisting in immersing exfoliated'natural shell material in flake form in an alkali treated, inca pre- 11 'cipitate-forming chemical to said so ution. 11; The herein described method of producing impigmented exfoliated shell, consist-' .ingin immersing exfoliated natural shell m ak terial in flake form in an alkali-treated, me- .1

tallic salt solution, then boiling and stirringthe mixture, then addin a precipitate-form- 7 ing chemicalfto the so ution, then ,boil' and stirring the whole, then removing sai shell fromsaid solution, and then washing 1 saidshelL- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto my hand at San Diego, California, this 10th; a day' of May, 1924.- j

. SIDNEY'RAU$GHEN3ER; 

